In the past several decades, the medical community has placed significant importance on the fight against cancer. As a result, the number of people who survived cancer from 1992 to 2014 doubled from 7 million to 14 million, according to the National Cancer Institute. While this is a key indicator of the considerable amount of progress made through cancer research, there is still more work to be done. The following looks at the number of people who have been affected by cancer, as well as why the number of individuals in the United States is expected to increase despite the strides made within the cancer community.
A Look at Cancer by the Numbers
According to the American Cancer Society, as of January 1, 2014, almost 14.5 million living Americans had a history of cancer. While some of these individuals had been diagnosed with cancer years ago and had undergone successful treatment, others have only recently learned of their illness and are currently receiving treatment.
Researchers believe that about 1,658,370 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2015. This figure does not include cases of basal or squamous cell cancer or any noninvasive cancer except bladder. It is thought that the leading sites of new cancer will be the prostate in men with 220,800 new cases diagnosed and the breast in females with 231,480 new cases diagnosed. Currently, in the United States, men have a higher risk of developing cancer (slightly less than 1 in 2) than women (a tad more than 1 in 3).
Researchers also expect around 589,430 Americans to die of cancer, or approximately 1,620 people daily, in 2015. Of these estimated deaths, lung and bronchial cancer is predicted to be the leading cause of death in both men and women. It is interesting to note that almost 171,000 of these estimated deaths will be the result of tobacco smoking. Currently, cancer accounts for one out of four deaths in the United States and is second only to heart disease in terms of mortality.
Fortunately, the 5 year survival rate for all types of cancer diagnosed has increased from 49 percent between 1975 and 1977 to 68 percent between 2004 and 2010. This is thought to be the result of earlier diagnosis, as well as an improvements made in treatment.
Risk Factors for Cancer
Although there are a number of cancer risk factors that cannot be controlled, others can. For example, age increases your risk of developing cancer. 78 percent of all cancer diagnoses are in individuals age 55 or older. On the other hand, men and women who smoke are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those individuals who choose not to smoke.
Additional risk factors that cannot be controlled include:
l Familial history: For example, women who have a first degree relative who have battled breast cancer are almost two times as likely to develop breast cancer as women who do not have a family history. However, it is not believed that genetic makeup is exclusively responsible for familial cases of cancer. Instead, it is thought that a combination between common genetic factors, as well as environmental and lifestyle risk factors result in an increased risk.
l Presence of infectious agents: While certain cancers could potentially be avoided by preventing or treating the infection, if a person does contract an infectious illness their risk increases. For example, human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for almost 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer, while hepatitis B and C can cause liver cancer, Epstein Barr virus (EBV) can result in some subtypes of non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma, and the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria increases the risk of gastric cancer.
l Environmental factors: As with infectious agents, cancers caused by certain environmental risk factors could be prevented by avoiding the substance or chemical. However, this is not always possible, particularly if an individual is unknowingly being exposed. For example, drinking water with high levels of arsenic have been linked to bladder, lung, and skin cancer, while secondhand tobacco smoke, outdoor air pollution, and asbestos have been linked to lung cancer.
There are also a number of risk factors for cancer that can be controlled including:
l Tobacco use and cigarette smoking: While tobacco use is strongly linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, smoking cigarettes is proven to be the leading cause of bladder, esophageal, kidney, lung, oral, pancreatic, and stomach cancer, as well as Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Researchers believe that 30 percent of all cancer related deaths in the United States are the result of cigarette smoking.
l Exposure to radiation: Radiation exposure is a proven cause of cancer. For example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight is the primary cause of nonmelanoma skin cancers. Ionizing radiations (like the medical radiation used to perform diagnostic tests including x-rays, nuclear medicine scans, CT scans, and fluoroscopy, as well as radon gas in your home) have been linked to cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, esophagus, lungs, ovaries, stomach, and thyroid, as well as leukemia.
l Obesity: Being obese is linked to a higher risk of postmenopausal breast, colorectal, endometrial, esophageal, kidney, pancreatic, and gallbladder cancer.
l Alcohol Use: Studies have indicated that drinking alcohol is linked to an increased risk of breast, esophageal, and oral cancer, as well as colorectal cancer in men.
l Diet: Although research is ongoing, some studies indicate that there are foods that increase your risk of certain types of cancer. For example, several studies have found that a diet high in calories, fat, protein, and red meat increases your risk of developing colorectal cancer.
On the other hand, studies have also found that some founds can decrease your cancer risks. For example, fruit is thought to protect against lung cancer, while fruit and nonstarchy vegetables may protect against esophageal and stomach cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth.
http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/budget_planning_leg/plan-2016
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@editorial/documents/document/acspc-044552.pdf
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-fact-sheet
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hiv-fact-sheet
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/h-pylori-fact-sheet
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/overview/patient/page3
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/overview/patient/page3
This is just a repeat to get to the required word count to send this to you.
In the past several decades, the medical community has placed significant importance on the fight against cancer. As a result, the number of people who survived cancer from 1992 to 2014 doubled from 7 million to 14 million, according to the National Cancer Institute. While this is a key indicator of the considerable amount of progress made through cancer research, there is still more work to be done. The following looks at the number of people who have been affected by cancer, as well as why the number of individuals in the United States is expected to increase despite the strides made within the cancer community.
A Look at Cancer by the Numbers
According to the American Cancer Society, as of January 1, 2014, almost 14.5 million living Americans had a history of cancer. While some of these individuals had been diagnosed with cancer years ago and had undergone successful treatment, others have only recently learned of their illness and are currently receiving treatment.
Researchers believe that about 1,658,370 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2015. This figure does not include cases of basal or squamous cell cancer or any noninvasive cancer except bladder. It is thought that the leading sites of new cancer will be the prostate in men with 220,800 new cases diagnosed and the breast in females with 231,480 new cases diagnosed. Currently, in the United States, men have a higher risk of developing cancer (slightly less than 1 in 2) than women (a tad more than 1 in 3).
Researchers also expect around 589,430 Americans to die of cancer, or approximately 1,620 people daily, in 2015. Of these estimated deaths, lung and bronchial cancer is predicted to be the leading cause of death in both men and women. It is interesting to note that almost 171,000 of these estimated deaths will be the result of tobacco smoking. Currently, cancer accounts for one out of four deaths in the United States and is second only to heart disease in terms of mortality.
Fortunately, the 5 year survival rate for all types of cancer diagnosed has increased from 49 percent between 1975 and 1977 to 68 percent between 2004 and 2010. This is thought to be the result of earlier diagnosis, as well as an improvements made in treatment.
Risk Factors for Cancer
Although there are a number of cancer risk factors that cannot be controlled, others can. For example, age increases your risk of developing cancer. 78 percent of all cancer diagnoses are in individuals age 55 or older. On the other hand, men and women who smoke are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those individuals who choose not to smoke.
Additional risk factors that cannot be controlled include:
• Familial history: For example, women who have a first degree relative who have battled breast cancer are almost two times as likely to develop breast cancer as women who do not have a family history. However, it is not believed that genetic makeup is exclusively responsible for familial cases of cancer. Instead, it is thought that a combination between common genetic factors, as well as environmental and lifestyle risk factors result in an increased risk.
• Presence of infectious agents: While certain cancers could potentially be avoided by preventing or treating the infection, if a person does contract an infectious illness their risk increases. For example, human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for almost 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer, while hepatitis B and C can cause liver cancer, Epstein Barr virus (EBV) can result in some subtypes of non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma, and the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria increases the risk of gastric cancer.
• Environmental factors: As with infectious agents, cancers caused by certain environmental risk factors could be prevented by avoiding the substance or chemical. However, this is not always possible, particularly if an individual is unknowingly being exposed. For example, drinking water with high levels of arsenic have been linked to bladder, lung, and skin cancer, while secondhand tobacco smoke, outdoor air pollution, and asbestos have been linked to lung cancer.
There are also a number of risk factors for cancer that can be controlled including:
• Tobacco use and cigarette smoking: While tobacco use is strongly linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, smoking cigarettes is proven to be the leading cause of bladder, esophageal, kidney, lung, oral, pancreatic, and stomach cancer, as well as Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Researchers believe that 30 percent of all cancer related deaths in the United States are the result of cigarette smoking.
• Exposure to radiation: Radiation exposure is a proven cause of cancer. For example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight is the primary cause of nonmelanoma skin cancers. Ionizing radiations (like the medical radiation used to perform diagnostic tests including x-rays, nuclear medicine scans, CT scans, and fluoroscopy, as well as radon gas in your home) have been linked to cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, esophagus, lungs, ovaries, stomach, and thyroid, as well as leukemia.
• Obesity: Being obese is linked to a higher risk of postmenopausal breast, colorectal, endometrial, esophageal, kidney, pancreatic, and gallbladder cancer.
• Alcohol Use: Studies have indicated that drinking alcohol is linked to an increased risk of breast, esophageal, and oral cancer, as well as colorectal cancer in men.
• Diet: Although research is ongoing, some studies indicate that there are foods that increase your risk of certain types of cancer. For example, several studies have found that a diet high in calories, fat, protein, and red meat increases your risk of developing colorectal cancer.
On the other hand, studies have also found that some founds can decrease your cancer risks. For example, fruit is thought to protect against lung cancer, while fruit and nonstarchy vegetables may protect against esophageal and stomach cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth.
http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/budget_planning_leg/plan-2016
http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@editorial/documents/document/acspc-044552.pdf
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-fact-sheet
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hiv-fact-sheet
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/h-pylori-fact-sheet
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/overview/patient/page3
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/overview/patient/page3
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